Disneyland’s Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree just opened an expanded lower patio along the Rivers of America, with Country Bears touches, umbrellas and roughly 80 new seats.
Disneyland’s Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree has a lot more room to sit down. An expanded lower patio along the Rivers of America opened around Thursday, Oct. 29, WDWNT and Daps Magic reported.
It’s the kind of upgrade regulars have wanted for years. Hungry Bear has some of the best river views in the park, and finding a table at lunch could feel like a contact sport.
Disney told MickeyVisit back in May that the project would add more than 80 seats. MickeyBlog counted about 25 new tables after it opened.
Here’s a walk-through of the new seating from Daps Magic:
Where is the new Hungry Bear seating at Disneyland?
It’s on the lower level, right along the Rivers of America shoreline. The new patio sits under and beside the restaurant’s upper deck, on a spot that used to be mostly plants and rocks, according to WDWNT and Daps Magic.
WDWNT said there used to be a much smaller dining area under the deck, fenced off from the landscaping with netting. Now it opens up toward the water.
Some tables are tucked under the deck and others sit under green and tan umbrellas, WDWNT reported. You can get down there by a short stone staircase or a wheelchair-accessible ramp from the walkway next to the restaurant.
What does the new Hungry Bear patio look like?
It leans hard into the Country Bears. WDWNT spotted chairs with branch-style backs, stone-pattern paving, wood plank accents and lanterns with bear silhouettes.
There’s also a little rock cave with a wooden door marked “Rufus,” a yellow beehive and a Five Bear Rugs illustration by the restroom. MickeyBlog added a “Rufus” mailbox and a “Don’t Feed the Bears” sign to the list.
The patio has its own “Fixin’s” bar, too, with ketchup, ranch and the restaurant’s Classic, Golden and Hot Smoky BBQ sauces, per MickeyBlog.
What can you eat at Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree?
Barbecue. Hungry Bear switched to a barbecue menu in October 2024, when it took the Barbecue Jamboree name, WDWNT reported.
The menu that launched with the change included a barbecue pulled pork sandwich, a smoked beef brisket sandwich, a classic cheeseburger, chicken tenders, a smoked barbecue combo platter, a corn ribs plate, watermelon lemonade and funnel cake fries, as Daps Magic listed it. Menus change, so check the Disneyland app for today’s lineup and prices before you go.
How long did the Hungry Bear construction take?
Longer than planned. Construction walls went up on May 20, WDWNT reported, and Disney filed an Anaheim permit to “extend outdoor dining/seating area at ground floor,” according to MickeyVisit.
At the time, Disney expected the work to wrap up “later this summer.” It ended up being late October. WDWNT tracked new patio flooring and a stone wall going in earlier this month.
Disney hasn’t put out a Parks Blog post about the opening, so the date comes from fan sites that were there.
What can you see from Hungry Bear at Disneyland?
The river steals the show. From the patio you can watch the Mark Twain Riverboat and the Sailing Ship Columbia go by, along with the rafts used for Fantasmic! at night, as MickeyVisit and MickeyBlog noted.
The Mark Twain had a short refurbishment in September and reopened Sept. 15, WDWNT reported. Check the app for the riverboat’s hours on the day you visit.
What else is new in Bayou Country?
The land around Hungry Bear has changed a lot in two years. Critter Country became Bayou Country when Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opened in November 2024, replacing Splash Mountain.
Long before that, the area was Bear Country, home of the Country Bear Jamboree show. That theater is now The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, which is why the bear decor on the new patio feels like a little wink.
Hungry Bear wasn’t the only Disneyland restaurant getting more seats this year. MickeyVisit reported in May that Edelweiss Snacks in Fantasyland opened a new seating area with 58 seats.
So next time you’re carrying a tray of brisket around Bayou Country looking for a table, head down the stairs. There’s a lot more room by the water now.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
WDWNT (Oct. 29, 2026), patio details, theming and construction timeline
Daps Magic (Oct. 30, 2026), opening day, menu list and the walk-through video
MickeyBlog (Oct. 31, 2026), table count and the Fixin’s bar
MickeyVisit (May 29, 2026), Disney’s seat count and permit
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